Artificial leaf structures as a UV detector formed by the self-assembly of ZnO nanoparticles

Artificial leaf structures have been fabricated by the self-assembly of ZnO nanoparticles. A hydrothermal method was used to synthesize the nanoparticles. The self-assembly patterns showed asymmetric dendritic morphologies, larger surface-to-volume ratios, a broad absorption band and high resistance. A non-equilibrium two-stage-formation process included diffusion limited aggregation, and the phase-field model was introduced to explain the formation mechanism of the pattern. A high-performance ultraviolet detector was fabricated on the artificial leaf structures, which showed that the current under the irradiation of a UV lamp (1.21 mW cm(-2)) was about 10(4) times greater than in the dark. The various and functional properties of the pattern show us the vast prospects of potential applications for light harvesting systems and other optical-electric devices.